The air still smelled like burning plastic and ash. Their defenses had taken a pounding. Their settlement had nearly been overrun - Their general was not a happy bunny.

Thea removed her hat and wiped a smear of grime across her forehead, mixing sweat and dirt before grabbing hold of the whimpering Dogmeat before he had time to escape. Everyone was filthy thanks to the badly executed firefighting methods. Even poor Dogmeat. It had taken some time for them to put out the fires and ascertain that this raid - thank god - had no deaths. Just a whole lot of hurting settlers.

'What do you think they were after?' Sturges asked - seemingly along the same train of thought as he washed his filthy hands at the pump besides a house - her house. 'Revenge for Corvega?'

Hancock was leaned against the wall of the building, smoking a cigarette as they cleaned up and wheezed a grating laugh. 'Raiders don't go in for revenge very much.' He pointed out. 'And when they do, you can bet your ass it's best served hot and fast.'

Dogmeat whined as she dragged him closer to the tap. Hancock was right, of course. Raiders didn't let things stew if they could help it. If they were an offshoot of the people in Corvega - then they'd have attacked long before now. While the settlement was still vulnerable.

'They could have been hoping to get to the stores.' Nick noted. 'It's pretty well documented around here that this is the best settlement in the north-east and very liberal with supplies. It'd be a smorgasbord if they could get to it.'

Thea nodded numbly, aware that maybe stockpiling weapons, ammo, food and medicine - not just for her but for all the settlements if they needed it - had just painted a big target on her settlement. If one group of raiders was willing to assault them like this on a rumour alone - then others would try too.

'Sturges, could you maybe-'

'Draw up some defensive improvement plans?' He smiled at her. 'Sure thing.' He stepped aside and said 'It's all yours ma'am.'

'Thanks.' She sighed gratefully as Dogmeat barked a yelp and tried to pull away. 'You are getting a bath!' She scolded him as the three others watched in mirth.

Finally, Dogmeat broke free and ran for it, leaving an annoyed Thea standing at the pump grumbling about dogs and water. Wasn't just dogs, either. She knew a certain Minuteman who hated swimming as much as Dogmeat did. No wonder they always got along so well.

'I'll go get him.' Sturges chuckled. 'I don't think you're in our resident canine's good books, right now.'

'You know, somehow I think you're right.' She dusted off her generals jacket and tried to ignore the way patches of grime just fell off in the wake of her filthy hands - what she wouldn't give for a washer in the apocalypse! Their resident handyman walked away shouting "Dogmeat! Dogmeat! C'mon she didn't mean it, boy!" with an almost broken, mirthful sound before she turned caught Hancock's eye. 'Tell me why Preston, Strong and Danse are visiting a museum, Hancock.'

The ghoul cackled and ashed his cigarette on the ground. 'Oh you're going to love this.'

'Tell me,' Thea demanded.

'They're looking for a pristine Jangles The Moon Monkey - for you.'

'Me?' She asked in surprise. 'Why- Shaun.'

Hancock broke into a grin. 'I didn't ask. Big guy said he knew where it was, Garvey wanted to go - Brotherhood kinda demanded to get in on the action. Didn't take him for the type to want a three-way, being a tight-arsed prick - but there you go.'

Normally, that would have at least gotten a snort out of Thea. Today however she groaned and ran a hand through down her face. 'I'm gonna kill him. Them. All three of them.'

'Why?' Nick asked. 'They're big boys, Thea.'

'That's super mutant territory - and they're doing this for me.' Thea groaned. 'If they die doing some stupid suicidal quest for me, i'll never forgive myself.' And she wouldn't either. She had a hard enough time reconciling herself to the fact that people - no matter how diplomatic or careful she was - would die for her and the cause that Preston had laid at her feet. That they'd be okay with that.

'She just said she was going to kill them anyw- Fuck, Valentine!' Hancock bemoaned as Nick applied an elbow to Hancock's ribs in a bid to stop him saying something stupid.

'What do you want to do?' The synth asked.

'I'm going to find them and wring their necks.' She replied. 'You up for another trek, Nick?'

'Sure, this old bucket of bolts could do with another workout.' He nodded.

'Hancock? You know where they were headed and I could really use the fire support.'

'Anytime, anywhere.' The ghoul replied and hefted his gun in agreement. 'Besides, you're going to need someone to hold that outrageous hat for you while you put the boot in.' That finally got a brief smile out of her.

'Should we take the dog too? He's already proven to be a useful tracker.' The old synth noted. 'Found Kellogg for us.'

Thea looked blank for a moment and murmured 'That's a good idea. Maybe I shouldn't have threatened him with a bath,'

A/N: I couldn't stop Hancock's potty mouth. I tried, I really did. I also don't have a whole lot of experience with writing Hancock (this is literally my first attempt) So I hope I've gotten him as in-character as the rest of the companions so far!

Anyway part two! And then it's back to the worst travelling party in history. Poor Dogmeat, though. He can't stand the thought of a B-A-T-H. Thea better break out the Salsbury steaks or she's never getting near him.

Hello readers! I live! Have an update! And thank you to everyone who has watched, favourited and reviewed between chapters! Always appreciated!